First-generation antipsychotic (butyrophenone)
Benperidol
Brand names: Anquil
Adult dose
Dose: 0.25–1.5mg/day in divided doses
Route: Oral
Frequency: OD–TDS
Clinical pearls
- Niche use for hypersexuality / antisocial sexual behaviour; rarely prescribed
- Specialist forensic / psychiatric initiation
- RCPsych prescribing guideline for paraphilias
Contraindications
- CNS depression
- Phaeochromocytoma
- Bone marrow suppression
- Parkinson's disease
- Hypersensitivity
Side effects
- Extrapyramidal effects (significant)
- Sedation
- Anticholinergic effects
- Hyperprolactinaemia
- Weight gain (less than atypicals)
- NMS
- QT prolongation
Interactions
- QT-prolonging drugs
- CNS depressants
- Levodopa (antagonism)
Monitoring
- Mental state
- ECG
- Prolactin
- EPSE
- Weight
Reference: BNF; RCPsych prescribing guideline; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/benperidol/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
Pathways
- Acute Behavioural Disturbance / Rapid Tranquillisation · RCEM 2022; RCPsych 2022; NICE NG10
- Self-Harm Presentation · NICE NG225 (2022)
- Capacity Assessment (Mental Capacity Act) · MCA 2005; Code of Practice
- Acute Psychosis Management · NICE CG178 2014
- Depression Management · NICE CG90 2022
- Lithium Therapy Monitoring · NICE CG185 / BNF